Replaceable pin system for in-vehicle component

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a replaceable pin system for an in-vehicle component. The replaceable pin system including a holding member, a pin member. The pin member includes a body, a protruding portion, and a first engaging portion. The holding member includes a base, a retainer, and a second engaging portion. The retainer is spaced away from the base in the protruding direction to define a rotation space together with the base. The two ends are interposed between the retainer and the base when the body is rotated to the second orientation. The second engaging portion is formed in the holding member at a position where the first engaging portion is positioned when the body is rotated to the second orientation, whereby the first engaging portion engages with the second engaging portion when the body is at the second orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A replaceable pin system for an in-vehicle component, the replaceable pin system comprising:
 a holding member that is fixed to the in-vehicle component; and 
 a pin member that is detachably connected to the holding member, wherein 
 the pin member includes a body, a protruding portion, and a first engaging portion, the body having two ends opposite to each other, the protruding portion protruding from the body in a protruding direction, 
 the holding member includes a base, a retainer, and a second engaging portion, 
 the retainer is spaced away from the base in the protruding direction to define a rotation space together with the base, the body being rotatable within the rotation space between a first orientation and a second orientation, 
 the two ends are interposed between the retainer and the base when the body is rotated to the second orientation, and 
 the second engaging portion is formed in the holding member at a position where the first engaging portion is positioned when the body is rotated to the second orientation, whereby the first engaging portion engages with the second engaging portion when the body is at the second orientation. 
 
     
     
       2. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the pin member further includes a first knob and a second knob that are disposed on the body to protrude from the body in the protruding direction, the first and second knobs interposing the protruding portion therebetween, 
 the first engaging portion includes two protrusions, one of the two protrusions outwardly protruding from the first knob in a radial direction of the protruding portion, the other of the two protrusions outwardly protruding from the second knob in the radial direction, 
 the second engaging portion includes two slots that are formed in the holding member to be opposite to each other, 
 a first distance is defined between the two protrusions, 
 a second distance is defined between the two slots, 
 the first distance is equal to or greater than the second distance, and 
 the first knob and the second knob are configured to be inwardly flexible in the radial direction. 
 
     
     
       3. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the retainer includes a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion, the first and second retaining portions being opposite to each other, 
 one of the two slots is formed in the first retaining portion and the other of the two slots is formed in the second retaining portion. 
 
     
     
       4. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first knob and the second knob are formed of resin to be elastically flexible. 
 
     
     
       5. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the pin member further includes a first knob and a second knob that are disposed on the body to protrude from the body in the protruding direction, the first and second knobs interposing the protruding portion therebetween, 
 the first engaging portion includes two slots, one of the two slots being inwardly recessed from the first knob in a radial direction of the protruding portion, the other of the two slots being inwardly recessed from the second knob in the radial direction, 
 the second engaging portion includes two protrusions that are formed in the holding member to be opposite to each other, 
 a first distance is defined between the two slots, 
 a second distance is defined between the two protrusions, 
 the first distance is equal to or greater than the second distance, and 
 the first knob and the second knob are configured to be inwardly flexible in the radial direction. 
 
     
     
       6. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the retainer includes a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion, the first and second retaining portions being opposite to each other, and 
 one of the two protrusions is formed in the first retaining portion and the other of the two protrusions is formed in the second retaining portion. 
 
     
     
       7. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the two ends of the body have arc-shaped outlines that lie on a common circle, 
 the base includes two curved walls that are opposite to each other, and 
 the two curved walls have arc-shaped outlines that lie on the common circle when the pin member is connected to the holding member. 
 
     
     
       8. A replaceable pin system for an in-vehicle component, the replaceable pin system comprising:
 a holding member that is fixed to the in-vehicle component; and 
 a pin member that is detachably connected to the holding member, wherein 
 the pin member includes a body, a protruding portion, and a first engaging portion, the body having two ends opposite to each other, the protruding portion protruding from the body in a protruding direction, 
 the holding member includes a base, a retainer, and a second engaging portion, 
 the retainer is spaced away from the base in the protruding direction to define a slide space together with the base, the body being slidable within the slide space along a sliding direction, 
 the two ends are interposed between the retainer and the base when the body is slid to an engaging position, and 
 the second engaging portion is formed in the holding member at a position where the first engaging portion is positioned when the body is slid to the engaging position, whereby the first engaging portion engages with the second engaging portion when the body is at the engaging position. 
 
     
     
       9. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the pin member further includes a first knob and a second knob that are disposed on the body to protrude from the body in the protruding direction, the first and the second knobs interposing the protruding portion therebetween, 
 the first engaging portion includes two protrusions, one of the two protrusions outwardly protruding from the first knob in a radial direction of the protruding portion, the other of the two protrusions outwardly protruding from the second knob in the radial direction, 
 the second engaging portion includes two slots that are formed in the holding member to be opposite to each other, 
 a first distance is defined between the two protrusions, 
 a second distance is defined between the two slots, 
 the first distance is equal to or greater than the second distance, and 
 the first knob and the second knob are configured to be inwardly flexible in the radial direction. 
 
     
     
       10. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the first knob and the second knob are formed of resin to be elastically flexible. 
 
     
     
       11. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the holding member includes a first wall and a second wall that protrude from the base in the protruding direction, the first and second walls being opposite to each other, 
 the retainer includes a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion, 
 the first retaining portion is formed on a distal end of the first wall to protrude toward the second wall, 
 the second retaining portion is formed on a distal end of the second wall to protrude toward the first wall, 
 one of the two slots is formed in the first wall and the other of the two slots is formed in the second wall, and 
 the first knob and the second knob are offset from the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion, respectively, in the sliding direction of the body when the body is in the engaging position. 
 
     
     
       12. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the pin member further includes a first knob and a second knob that are disposed on the body to protrude from the body in the protruding direction, the first and second knobs interposing the protruding portion therebetween, 
 the first engaging portion includes two slots, one of the two slots being inwardly recessed from the first knob in a radial direction of the protruding portion, the other of the two slots being inwardly recessed from the second knob in the radial direction, 
 the second engaging portion includes two protrusions that are formed in the holding member to be opposite to each other, 
 a first distance is defined between the two slots, 
 a second distance is defined between the two protrusions, 
 the first distance is equal to or greater than the second distance, and 
 the first knob and the second knob are configured to be inwardly flexible in the radial direction. 
 
     
     
       13. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the first knob and the second knob are formed of resin to be elastically flexible. 
 
     
     
       14. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the holding member includes a first wall and a second wall that protrude from the base in the protruding direction, the first and second walls being opposite to each other, 
 the retainer includes a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion, 
 the first retaining portion is formed on a distal end of the first wall to protrude toward the second wall, 
 the second retaining portion is formed on a distal end of the second wall to protrude toward the first wall, 
 one of the two protrusions is formed in the first wall and the other of the two protrusions is formed in the second wall, and 
 the first knob and the second knob are offset from the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion, respectively, in the sliding direction of the body when the body is at the engaging position. 
 
     
     
       15. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the in-vehicle component is a radiator. 
 
     
     
       16. The replaceable pin system according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the radiator includes a tank, and 
 the holding member is fixed to the tank.